The Cecil Whig., 1887-05-21
Marshal Neys Identity.

Tie following letter relating to Marshal
News identity written to the Washington
Post recently by person signing L. A.
j. has been called to cur notice by a
value Washington correspondents: our
notice Of the purpose of several promi-
nent ph> sicians of the Salisbury section
(North Caroira) to exhume the remains
of Peter S. Ney from their grave al
Thnd reek. Rowan County, for the pur-
pose Of ascertaiDing whether they are
these of the famous Marshal Nry, of
Farce" &c.. &c., recalls to mind et-
forts made more than forty years ago 10
ascert; in aud determine to my own salts
faction v neither or not one Michael Ru-
dulrh, who had small farm on which
he cultivated chiefly tobacco, and
>mail log cabin at the head nt Chesapeake
Bay. after the peace of 1883 with Great
Britain, was, i'll after times, the famous
Michael Ney-the Emperor Napoleons
gre at ma slal-w no was condemn ed TO
he shot by a court-martial at PARIS dur
irg the possession of that city by the
allies, and who, it was supposed at the
time. was actually shot by platoon OF
biz own cops. The story of Michael
Rudolph, supposed to have become Ney
by many persons. is too long an one TO
offer for public tion now. The evidence
obtaired at the time from the columns
of I6u1s0h's 8 AdreriiSer, Philadelphia of
the alleged testimony of Marshal Nor
tier OF France, enc of the witnesses be
fore the court in Paris which tried and
fourd him guilty of treason; who, it is
said in giving bis opinion OF Ney, said
that in his opinion 'Ney would sell
France with as little scruple as he sold
his plugs of tobacco at Cherbourg. The
efforts of NJ. Geret, the notorious ex-
minister of France to the United States,
hose relatian had married Ney to sup
press and stay the discussion commenced
III IoulsOH's ddrertiser and other papers
the beliefs of members of the Rudolph
family (on the wife's side). in the vicinity
of ElktOn. Md, Sopelu, Ca, and of pub
lished statements of persons of the high
est respectability of North Carolina, aud
afterward residents OF Missouri. all areHt
then to satisfy me that Michael Rudolph,
who was a soldier in our southern cam
paignS during our Revolutionary wal
with Great Britain. and given, 10y his
comrades. the soubriquet of the 'bravest
OF the braveSt' which he afterward won
in the Napoleonic wars Gle brave des
Irlves"), and who. for domestic rea
>, rs. or su> pcions, left the neighhorhoOd
OF his leg cabin ore evening, went or
board If his little freIghing vessel, il.
which he had ht en- in the habit Of carry
il g bis WI ard lis ntighh"rs' toi; Gee
on the Chesapeake I" the West lnGics.
and dlsapl e. red never t" a1pfar again II
that vlc1hliy, as Michael Rudolph.
When our commissioners. sept tc the
t'rt n"h nIectory. were IN Pans, ard be-
tore h"irg lHncn ini"rsy ORDERED "nt o:
the country, Mr.. Monroe also saw and
recognIz ID him. IL WAS said. MIR. -iurens
(tbink it was. Of Sonth Carolira) is re.
ported 70 have SAID TO TREND on his re
,urn bone, 'l," y"u remember the sr,l
dier, Michael ltud"lph. whr Was =" gal
liant III our struggle, and wh" was eaiI'.u
by his comrades tn" h;avrst of t'l'
brave? YES, said his 'riend. "What
of him ?' ''N"l', before tie Directory
sent US our pas ports We ere pre.e.it AT
grand review n the ChamrS de Mars,
aud there saw Rudolph, literally II
high feathers, as a general officer Of the
French army Mr.. Monroe also saw
ana IT cognized him. it is said Whether
Marshal News skull was trephined or
not. or whether it is a matter of jmpor
tance or interest to the people of this
country that Michael Rudolph, of"North
East" at the head of the Chesapeake